Game device



June 4, 1963 C; J, SUPER 3,092,390

GAME DEVICE Filed April 13, 1961 Q/f Q United States Patent O 3,092,390GAME DEVICE Carl J. Super, 1531 Ave. G, Fort Madison, Iowa Filed Apr.13, 1961, Ser. No. 102,870 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-135) This inventionrelates to an amusement device or game device, and more particularly toa game device that is adapted to utilize an element of chance combinedwith the exercise of memory by the player or players.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a game devicewhich is self-contained `and wherein the game device is adapted to beplayed in such a manner that when a certain group or particular set ofpush buttons are manually depressed, a signal consisting of a light orlamp is adapted to be actuated or energized in order to give anindication that a ball member is in a particular location or position,and wherein according to the present invention a player must rememberwhich push buttons were manually operated for pushed in order tosubsequently push buttons that have lighted the lamp and also avoidpushing buttons that have proven to be dead.

Another object of the present invention is to ,provide a game device ofthe character described that is adapted to ybe made so that all of thenecessary operating parts are self-contained wherein one or morebatteries arranged in the game device can be used for supplying theelecltrical energy for actuating the signal lamp `at the proper time.

Still another object is to provide such a game device that is economicalto manufacture and efficient in operation and which is rugged instructure and foolproof in use.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in a device of the character described thatiseconomical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the mosteconomical use of materials and uniformity of members formed thereform.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in thesubsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of the game device of l'the presentinvention, with parts broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the base with the openingstherein for selectively receiving the ball members.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view illustrating the wiring dia-gram of thepresent invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral y10 indicates the gamedevice of the present invention which 'is shown to comprise a housing orcasing that is indicated generally by the numeral 11, and the housing'11 is adapted to be made of a suitable non-conducting material, and asshown in the drawings, the housing 11 embodies a bottom wall 12 as wellas spaced parallel upstanding side walls 13, and spaced parallelvertically disposed end walls 14. The numeral 15 indicates a generallyrectangular frame that is suitably mounted to the upper portion of thehousing 11, and the frame 1S includes spaced parallel side members orportions 16 as well as spaced parallel end members or portions 17.

Mounted in the lower portion of the housing 11 is a horizontallydisposed base 18, and the base 1S is made "ice of material which iselectrically conductive, and as shown in FIGURE 2, for example, the base.18 is provided with 'seated in slots 20 in the walls of the housing 11so as to retain or maintain the base 18 in its proper position slightlyabove the bottom wall 12 of the housing.

Ball members 21 of electrically conductive material are adapted toselectively engage the openings .19 of the base 18, and the ball members21 are mounted for movement through channels or passageways 23 that aredefined between spaced l upstanding partitions 22, and there is providedone ball member 21 for each of the passageways or channels 23, for apurpose to be later described.

The numeral 24 indicates a horizontally disposed plate of electricallyconductive material that is arranged in spaced parallel relation abovethe base 18, and outer edge portions of the plate 24 may be received inrecesses 37 that are provided in the lower portion of the frame 15 so asto maintain the plate 24 in its proper position. The plate 24 isprovided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures 25 therein, and thegame device of the present invention includes ,a plurality of pushbuttons which are each indicated generally by the numeral 26, and asshown in FIGURE 3 for example, each of the push buttons 26 has generallythe same construction and each embodies a stem or shank 27 that isslidable through an aperture 25 in the plate 24. A coil spring 28 iscircumposed on each stem 27, and there is provided ion the upper end ofeach push button a finger engaging piece 29, and the finger pieces 29are adapted to have different colors thereon. A bushing 30 is adapted tobe aiiixed to the lower end of the stem 27, and a washer 31 is arrangedabove the plate 24 and below the lower end of .the coil spring 28.

The game device of the present invention further includes an electricalcircuit which embodies a signal lamp or light 32 that is suitablymounted in the device, and, for example, the lamp 32 can be supported ina socket that is affixed in the plate 24, and a transparent shield orcover 33 is adapted to be arranged over the lamp 32, FIGURE 4. Thenumeral 34 indicates a source Yof electrical energy such as ya batterythat is adapted to be arranged within the game device, and as shown inFIGURE 6 electric wires or conductors 35 and 36 are provided for thecircuit.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a gamedevice, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, itwill be seen that the `game device 10 of the present invention includesthe housing 11 that is ladapted to be made of a non-conductive material,and mounted within the lower portion of the housing 11 is the conductivebase or plate 18 which has the openings A19 therein, and these openings19 are of a size so as to snugly receive therein a lower portion of aball member 21 in order totemporarily prevent movement or rolling of aball member 21 in a channel 23 defined between the partitions 22. It isto be noted that if a ball member 21 is below a push button 26 when thatparticular push button 26 is manually depressed, the electrical circuitwill be completed through the push button 26 :and through the ballmember 21 and through the base A18, battery 34, lamp 32, and plate 24 sothat the lamp 32 will be lit when a ball member is in an opening 19below a particular push button 26 that is manually depressed oropera-ted. When manual pressure is released on the push button 26, thecoil spring 28 will return or urge the stem to its initial position sothat the electrical circuit to the lamp will be automatically opened orbroken.

When a push button is manually depressed and when 3 there is no ballmember 21 in an opening 19 therebelow, then the light 32 will not beenergized since it is necessary for a ball member to be in positionbelow a push button that is depressed in order to complete theelectrical circuit from the battery to the lamp or light.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in diierent shapes orsizes.

The game device is constructed so that no contact can be made in anyposition unless one of the buttons is fully depressed. After a game hasbeen played, or when it is desired to start the play over again, thegame device can be shaken or tilted in order to readily cause the balls21 to be dislodged or moved from the particular openings -19 in whichthey are seated so that these ball members can be caused to engage otheropenings whereby a different random selection of push buttons will benecessary in order to accomplish the desired result or eiect.

It will therefore be seen that according to the present invention therehas been provided an electrical game which combines chance and memory,and the present invention is a self-contained game device which can beplayed by two or more persons and the game device can be played withinterest by children such as children above the age of seven aswell asby adults.

The following is given as an explanation tof the rules of playing thegame. Each player pushes but one button 26 in each horizontal row, andif the iirst button pushed in the iirst row lights the lamp 32, theplayer proceeds to the second row to push just one button. If thatbutton lights the lamp, he or she progresses to the third row, and so onuntil the lamp 32 has been lighted in all the rows including the bottomrow so as to win the game. If the lamp does not light when the playerpushes a button, the player loses the turn to the next opponent. Eachplayer must start at the top row every time he plays, and push a buttonlighting the lamp in each row until a dead button is pushed or until itlights the lamp in all of the rows. Because the lamp must be lighted ineach row, and only one push is allowed in each row, the use of memory isrequired. Thus, each player must remember which button to push, so thatin his turn he can push buttons that have lighted the lamp and avoidbuttons that are proven to be dead.

It is to be noted that when all the rows of buttons have lighted thelamp by a player pushing just one button in each row, the game is overand a new game begins. Also, only one button in each row will light thelamp in that row. The position of this button is never known at thestart of the game. After completing the game, the sequence ofthe lamplighting buttons is changed by merely shaking the game board, since themovement of the board disturbs the steel balls 21 in each row of buttonsas shown in the drawings so that the balls reposition themselves underdifferent buttons by settling in the holes 19 in order to create a newsequence vof lamp lighting buttons.

An important aspect of the present invention is the laying out of a newsequence of lamp lighting buttons in conjunction with the aforementionedfeatures.

The housing 11 can be made of a suitable rigid material such as wood,plastic or the like and the housing 1,1 is of a material that is not aconductor of electrical energy. The base 18 is of a material that doesconduct electricity, and the partitions 22 are of a material that doesnot conduct electricity. The partitions 22 form supports between theplate 24 and base 718 so as to prevent warping or depression of theplate 24 and base y18 when pressure is applied to the push button 26.The plate 24 and base 18 are of the material that will conductelectricity, and the balls 21 are also of a material that will conductelectricity such as steel. The spring loaded push buttons 26 are also ofa material that will conduct electricity. When these push buttons 26have their upper iinger engaging elements 29 depressed, theyelectrically connect the surfacesl 18 and 24 if and when a steelrball Z1is under the button that is depressed, and this contact completes theelectrical circuit that will light the lamp.

The light 32 and battery 34 are connected in series with the twoconducting surfaces 24 and 18 so that the lamp 32 will light when theseries circuit is closed by pressing one of the push buttons 26 againsta steel ball 21.

In FIGURE.' 5 vthe numeral 19 indicates openings in the base v18 and thesteel balls 21 settle in these openings or holes 19 in the base 18 afterthe board is shaken, and these holes 19 insure that the balls willproperly be under a button so that they will not change positions untilthe game is over and the board is again shaken. The holes 19 areconsiderably smaller than the balls 21 so that they will not deter easymovement of the balls when the board is shaken.

location of the battery 34 and light 3-2 between the surfaces 24 and 18,and on the top of the member 24 there is provided an open surface inthevicinity of the area 38- which provides room to display the name of thegame as well as instructions for playing the game.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be obvious that lthe invention may beotherwise embodied and the dimensions and interrelation of parts changedso long as the objects of the invention are attained.,

What is claimed is:

1. A game device comprising a housing of non-conductive material andsaid housing including a bottom wall, spaced parallel verticallydisposed side walls, and spaced parallel end walls; a base of conductivematerial mounted in said housing in spaced relation with respect to saidbottom wall, and said base being arranged above said bottom wall, agenerally rectangular frame mounted on the upper portion of saidhousing, there being a plurality of spaced apart openings in said base,a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed partitions arrangedin said housing and extending between said side walls and deliningtherebetween channels, a single ball member of conductive materialmovable in each of said channels, a plate of conductive material mountedin said housing and arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect tosaid base and positioned above said base, there being a plurality ofspaced apart apertures in said plate, a plurality of push buttons eachcomprising a stem of electrically conductive material movably mounted inan aperture of the plate, coil springs circumposed on said stems, tngerpieces on the upper ends ofthe push buttons, and an electrical circuitincluding a light and a source of electrical energy connected to saidplate and base.

2. A game device comprising a housing of non-conductivematerial and saidhousing including a bottom wall, spaced parallel vertically disposedside walls, and spaced parallel end walls; a base of conductive materialmounted in said housing in spaced relation with respect to said bottomrwall and said base being arranged above said bottom wall, a generallyrectangular frame mounted on the upper portion of said housing, thereYbeing a plurality of spaced apart openings in said base, a plurality ofspaced parallel vertically disposed partitions arranged in said housingand extending between said side walls and delining therebetweenchannels, a single ball member of couductive material movable in each ofsaid channels, a plate of conductive material mounted in said housingand arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said base andpositioned above said base, there being a plurality of spaced apartapertures in said plate, a plurality of push buttons each comprising astem of electrically conductive material movably mounted in an apertureof the plate, coil springs circumposed on said stems, linger pieces onthe upper ends ofthe push buttons, and an elecand said push buttonscorresponding in number and arrangement to the openings in the basetherebelow.

3. In a game device, a housing of non-conductive material, a base ofelectrically conductive material mounted in the lower portion of saidhousing, there being a plurality of spaced apart rows of openings insaid base, a partition disposed between each of the adjacent rows andrising from said base, an electrically conductive ball member movablebetween each of the adjacent partitions and seatabie in one of theopenings of the associated row of openings, an electrically conductiveplate supported in said housing and disposed in superimposed spacedrelation above said balls, an electrically conductive spring# biasedpush button mounted in said plate above and in registry with each baseopening and being depressible by finger pressure into electrical contactwith the ball of the adjacent row of openings when seated in saidopening, a signal lamp mounted in said housing, and a source ofelectrical energy connected in circuit with said plate, said base, andsaid lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 852,755Great Britain Nov. 2, 1960

3. IN A GAME DEVICE, A HOUSING OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A BASE OFELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL MOUNTED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAIDHOUSING, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART ROWS OF OPENINGS INSAID BASE, A PARTITION DISPOSED BETWEEN EACH OF THE ADJACENT ROWS ANDRISING FROM SAID BASE, AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BALL MEMBER MOVABLEBETWEEN EACH OF THE ADJACENT PARTITIONS AND SEATABLE IN ONE OF THEOPENINGS OF THE ASSOCIATED ROW OF OPENINGS, AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVEPLATE SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING AND DISPOSED IN SUPERIMPOSED SPACEDRELA-